the small tea co-operative

The small tea co-operative was established by Kel Kelly and Peggy Carswell, community development workers from Canada's west coast. 

Since 1999, we've provided information, technical assistance and encouragement that's helped make it possible for small-scale independent tea growers to cultivate, process and market organically-grown teas.


The small co-op works closely with  Fertile Ground:  East/West Sustainability Network,  a non-profit organization based on Vancouver Island, located off Canada's west coast.  Fertile Ground works in northeast India with tea growers, farmers, educators, NGO's to promote organic and traditional farming practices.  Members and volunteers have also worked with residents of Digboi, Assam and members of their local Rotary Club to develop Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa,  a 2 acre demonstration garden and resource centre.  With support from staff at the garden, visitors of all ages and from locations across Assam are learning how to make compost, identify and control insect pests and take a more eco-friendly approach to growing crops.

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Every year, Fertile Ground provides opportunities for volunteers to learn about Assam and tea cultivation and help out at the garden.  If you're enthusiastic about organic farming, visit their website for more information and send them a line at fertile-ground2003@yahoo.com.